Good morning, Fujimoto!
Good morning!
Do you know what time it is right now?
Yes!
And yet every morning... what is it today?
I'm here to help out today as well!
Please let me help you, Fujimoto!
Jeez... you know—
Oh!
Good morning, Kobato, Fujimoto.
Good morning!
Are you helping him out today too?
Yes!
I'm sure you're a big help!
Quit joking around. Why does she have to help me?
Kobato, don't let up on him, okay?
It seems like Fujimoto would overwork himself from the moment he's left alone after all!
Of course!
How do I do this again?
The simplest things in life
end up being the most difficult.
I just want to smile when I'm happy
and sing a song whenever I please.
I was told, "Someday, your dream will come true."
But when exactly will that be?
I can't wait that long!
I spread my arms
on the count of one two three
and gather all the light in the world.
Tell me,
isn't there something I can do?
Even if someone hurts my feelings,
I'll keep running toward the light.
Even if I trip, fall, and cry my eyes out, I still believe.
Although it may seem silly...
I believe in tomorrow.
Production The Kobato Protection Group
Man, every single day...
I can do it myself!
Oh right!
I found this. I'll hang it over here, okay?
H-Hey!
Don't do things without asking first!
What else should I do?
...Kobato's Wish.
Where are you going today?
Yesterday you went to the library, and the day before to the university!
To work.
I thought you had off from work?
I don't know how many times I've said this already, but if you're doing this—
I'm not doing this out of sympathy or curiosity.
I've also told you that this annoys me, haven't I?
Have you taken a walk before, Fujimoto?
What?
It's good to take walks! It's fun!
What's fun is...
You're the only one who thinks so.
Let's go!
Let's go somewhere fun!
Hey!
That's right. They went out together.
Yeah.
No matter who you are, time is the key for something like this.
Like it was for the two of you.
Yeah.
Why are we doing this?
What is it?
Because your right here, Fujimoto, is always all scrunched up!
So I want you to enjoy yourself!
Wow, look at the boats!
Fujimoto, let's get on a boat!
Wait, a boat?
Hey!
It costs money...
Row!
Hey.
We're going to crash.
Switch.
No, we can't!
You're injured!
If you keep doing it, we're never going to get back!
Never going to...
I'll do my best!
I'll do my best to row!
Don't put the oars in too deep.
Right!
Use your legs too.
Got it!
Here we go.
We're moving!
This is so amazing!
You are so happy-go-lucky.
Fujimoto?
Yeah?
It's gotten a little better here!
What's the meaning of this?
Well, in order to make Fujimoto feel better, this time I've bought fish food to—
That's not what I mean!
Do you know what sort of situation you're in right now?!
Yes! I've made Fujimoto spend money again.
But I made sure to get the right amount of change back—
That's not what I'm talking about! How many times do I need to say this? You're out of time!
Right, that's why I'll do my best!
Let's hurry back!
Hey! I'm not done talking yet— Hey!
Here fishy, fishy! Here's some food!
Are you there?
Would you like some too, Fujimoto?
Please just leave me alone.
I can't calm down with you always around me like this.
I understand.
All right, let's get going, Kobato!
If we don't even collect one more konpeito—
Oh, look here!
Hello.
Man, it was only you, Kohaku?
Are you out on a walk?
The weather is beautiful today!
What the heck is up with this happy-happy mood?!
Is it not okay to be happy?
Kohaku! Talk to your fellow happy- happy cheerleader, won't you?
To Kobato?
Yeah! Forgetting her wish and flouncing about all happy-happy!
I haven't forgotten.
What was that?
I haven't forgotten. I've decided on my wish.
Huh? Well, of course you have.
What the heck is up with her.
What an idiot.
Are you angry, Ioryogi?
Yeah, I am!
I am angry with her, but when she looks at me with such resolution in eyes...
Kobato has chosen, hasn't she?
Idiot girl...
Everything that happens is inevitable.
And so nothing is ever meaningless.
Is that true only for the heavenly world?
Can that be said for those of the spirit world as well?
It applies to all beings.
I see.
Fujimoto!
Thank goodness. I was able to find you!
Why?
Huh?
Why do you concern yourself with me?
Why do I...
So I'll be grateful to you?
If so, you've got the wrong guy.
I don't really feel grateful for this or anything.
I won't think anything of it after it's over either.
Because you're an important person to me, Fujimoto.
It's natural to be concerned about those important to you.
Miss Sayaka has the organ for safekeeping.
Whatever, doesn't matter.
That organ is important to you, isn't it, Fujimoto?
You can go and play it again whenever you'd like.
What is it?
I was just thinking that you and Ioryogi are so alike!
Like how you two are always angry and such.
Ioryogi is that stuffed animal you're always carrying around, right?
Yes! But he's really an extremely nice person.
I suppose we should get going.
Yes, I suppose so.
Kohaku.
Yes?
You chose as well, didn't you?
Are you happy?
Yes.
Oh, what about your laundry?
Hanging up the laundry is difficult, isn't it?
I could—
Fujimoto.
What?
I can't be with you tomorrow.
Well, isn't that great. I'll finally be free.
As long as you're happy, Fujimoto, I'm happy too.
Sign: Oral Medication
Take care.
Thank you.
Oh, I see. This is rather sudden, isn't it?
Thank you for taking care of me.
I wanted to say goodbye to Chiho and Chise as well but...
I'm sure they'll miss you.
What about Sayaka?
I'm planning on going to see her now.
I see.
It's already been a year since you came here, hasn't it, Kobato?
Yes, spring and summer and fall and winter, all four seasons have passed. It's been a wonderful time.
Once you're settled again, give me a call, okay?
Okay.
Once I'm settled...
I've decided on my wish.
Hey Dobato, you know what that means, right?
Yes.
If you don't gather the rest of the konpeito, you'll—!
You don't care what happens to you?
Are you stupid or something?
I may be, I guess.
You are.
A full, 100 point idiot.
Ioryogi! I'm sorry for the wait.
Have you made your farewells?
Yes!
Shall we go then?
Yes!
Jeez, he's still not back yet.
Well, I suppose things are okay like this.
Look how bright the moon is.
That it is.
Hey, Kobato.
What is it, Ioryogi?
Is it painful to do nothing but stay by someone's side?
Painful?
Why would it be?
Just being able to stay by someone's side... that itself is a wonderful thing.
I thought that you definitely would've known about it...
No, I...
It must've been hard for Kobato to say, I'm sure.
Where did she say she was going?
She only said that she'd call after she got settled in...
There he goes.
She's here.
Now you wait just a second!
Please!
She worked really hard!
She's a little dumb and clumsy and silly,
and her only redeeming characteristics are her cheerfulness and honesty,
but that's just perfect for a human! She really has a wonderful soul!
So please, don't get rid of her.
Don't... get rid of her.
Ioryogi, you're making things difficult for Ushagi.
I'm sorry, Kobato.
Please don't apologize. This is something that I decided on.
I'm...
Thank you, Ioryogi.
What are you doing?!
Fujimoto...
Where are you planning on going?
I don't know.
Are you messing with me?
In the end, I've made you angry again.
Of course you have!
Disappearing without saying a word! What are up to?
I'm sorry.
Did what I said upset you?
No! It's not that at all!
Then why?!
Because of her contract.
Who's there?
Up here.
On top of the luggage.
Yo.
This is Ioryogi.
That's... a stuffed animal...
Just pretending to be one.
We were talking about the contract, right?
Kobato, show him.
Okay.
H-Hey, what's going on?
You're... what is that?
She's dead.
Kobato's soul right now doesn't belong to any world.
She's an unliving, ambiguous existence.
But because of a contract with someone up there, she was given one chance to be reborn and relive her life.
Wait, what are you talking about?
But...
Kobato chose to spend her remaining time with you instead of fulfilling her contract.
And accordingly, broke it.
That's why I have no choice but to disappear.
You're joking, right?! Hey!
I was happy to be able to stay by your side, Fujimoto.
I can't do it, can I... I wanted to leave with a smile on my face in the end...
Stop! Please stop!
You're my most important person, Fujimoto.
Up until now...
From now on... till the end of time.
Don't go!
Konpeito?
What's going on?
The konpeito... are accumulating.
Kobato's wish has changed.
But the contract cannot be changed.
The contract to reach the place she wished to go to...
Fujimoto's konpeito...
It's so warm...
That's just like a curse now!
Please! Reincarnate Kobato into this world!
Damn it!
I'm sorry that I wasn't able to do anything.
Don't apologize. I wasn't either, even though I was with her the longest.
But if everything that happens is inevitable, then...
What's happening?
I must go to the place I should be at.
Goodbye.
Your smile falls in that space
between the things I've lost and the things I've gained.
It seems as if I could reach it, but I can't.
It's not as if I can fly...
Even though I only wanted to make you smile...
What purpose do they serve, these useless wings of mine?
All I can do is smile by your side.
I wonder if it's okay to only warm your heart
when, at the very least, I want to envelop you in warmth.
Have you noticed? I want to embrace you with my wings.
And now, I am able to smile.
Next
...The Days That Follow.